Mechanical properties of spacer fabric-reinforced composites knitted from glass yarn

In this study, to investigate the tensile, compression, and impact strengths of weft-knitted spacer fabric-reinforced composites made from glass yarn, first the glass yarn was knitted on industrial flat knitting machine and two types of spacer preforms were produced. Then, mechanical tests were applied to examine the strengths of the composites manufactured from spacer preforms. As a result, it is concluded that making tuck stitches in short and long needles improves locking of upper and lower layers of the spacer fabric; also the minority of crossover points in the second type of the spacer fabric generate a very stiff and high strength spacer fabric preform.